I Am Scouted by Real Madrid

Chapter 601: Chapter 55: Crucial Decision! (Part 2)

Real Madrid fans believe that Valdes definitely made contact with Cristiano Ronaldo, causing him to lose balance and fall inside the penalty area. At least a penalty should be given; normally it should be a yellow card and a penalty.

Valdes should get two yellows turned into a red and be sent off, and we could score another goal. How wonderful that would be!

Guardiola and Mourinho on the sidelines both breathed a sigh of relief, yet felt a bit ”insatiable.”

”This is a...”

”Very clever decision.”

”Whether it’s a penalty or a goalie foul.”

”Someone would get two yellows into a red and be sent off.”

”The referee simply simplified things.”

”Valdes did not foul, Ronaldo did not fake a fall.”

”It was just a simple move, Ronaldo dribbled past and then touched the ball too far ahead.”

”Finally, he lost balance near the baseline.”

”The referee avoided a decision that could cause controversy after the match, opting for a goal kick instead.”

”Of course, we can understand.”

”After all, it’s the Spanish national derby, and it’s one of the most comprehensive and intense derbies in recent years.”

The first half is almost over, Barcelona is trying to slow down the pace.

”Busquets with the ball.”

”Barcelona is playing as if it’s a rondo exercise in training.”

”Iniesta is raising his hand for the ball.”

”Messi is dropping back to receive the ball.”

”Taking the ball at this position.”

”Messi?”

”Hehe.”

In Real Madrid’s half, Messi struggles to get the ball because Chen Zhong is around him.

This forces him to retreat back to his own half to request the ball.

Busquets doesn’t hesitate and passes the ball to Messi.

Negredo quickly closes in and tries to intercept, Messi changes pace slightly and gets past him.

And Ronaldo closes in quickly too, but Messi’s acceleration is so fast, like a rabbit, leaving Ronaldo stretching his leg in the wind, floundering.

”Messi!”

”Dribbles past two players in succession.”

”Is he going for a solo goal again?”

”Chen Zhong!”

Messi starts gaining momentum while Chen Zhong prepares to tackle.

They’ve faced off more than once before.

When Messi dribbles with the ball, even Chen Zhong cannot completely stop him one-on-one.

The reason is that Messi’s foot frequency is too fast; he’s like playing rock-paper-scissors, slightly sees what you are going to throw, and then makes his move, the only reason for ties or losses is when his mind slips.

And Messi knows this as well; he hasn’t fully accelerated yet, making it hard for Chen Zhong to predict his path. Chen Zhong’s slide tackle is somewhat in tune with him.

Seeing Chen Zhong pressing closer step by step, Messi also brings the ball diagonally, trying to move away from Chen Zhong, creating distance between them, then makes a long shot nearly 30 yards outside the penalty area.

”Messi!”

”Hits a powerful shot.”

”It flies wide.”

”He shyly scratches his nose.”

Chen Zhong stops and looks at Messi, Messi also looks at Chen Zhong, scratches his nose as if saying, oh dear, messed up.

Barcelona’s attack that started strong and ended weak seems to make Real Madrid a bit complacent. As the first half draws to a close, Ramos gets tackled by Pedro in the middle and backfield.

After stealing the ball, Pedro immediately passes it to Messi.

”Ramos!”

”That mistake shouldn’t have happened!”

”Didn’t he see Pedro?”

”Barcelona on the attack.”

”Looking for Messi!”

”Chen Zhong!”

Messi tries to get the ball, but Chen Zhong, like a heavy hammer, nudges Messi at the start, making him stumble and finally makes a crucial interception.

Not only a critical interception.

The issue is, Chen Zhong isn’t just a defensive player; he’s quite skilled at long passes.

”Beautiful interception.”

”Incredible awareness.”

”Directly goes for a long pass.”

”Negredo leaps high, heads the ball on.”

”Ronaldo!”

”Shoots instantly!”

Chen Zhong’s long pass precisely finds Negredo.

Negredo, under pressure from Busquets, head-passes to the left to Cristiano Ronaldo.

Facing a Barcelona double-team, the Portuguese opts for a long shot.

A strike from 35 yards slams toward Barcelona’s goal, but Valdes positioning is excellent, easily catching the ball.

”The first half is about to end.”

”Barcelona’s attack.”

”This may be the last attack of the first half.”

”Barcelona looks very eager to score.”

”They want to lead going into halftime.”

”Continuous passing coordination.”

”Trying to pass to Messi.”

”But with Chen Zhong on the side, how to pass?”

If Barcelona is a serpent, then Messi is its weakest part, and now Chen Zhong is like a strong hand, gripping it firmly.

They keep passing, trying to find an opportunity to pass to Messi, and Messi keeps moving back and forth, but he can’t shake free of Chen Zhong.

”Iniesta.”

”Xavi.”

”Busquets.”

”Back and forth several times.”

”Barcelona slowly advancing forward.”

Unknowingly, under Barcelona’s tiki-taka, the ball has arrived near Real Madrid’s penalty area.

The first half is nearing its end, and Real Madrid players’ stamina has been notably depleted; some can barely run anymore.

They watch Barcelona’s tiki-taka with some annoyance, like watching annoying flies.

Especially Xavi, who loves to hold the ball, then turn and pass back, not even immediately, always waiting until someone comes close to pass.

Really makes one grow irritated.

”Focus.”

”Stay alert.”

”Hold your positions!” Chen Zhong shouts loudly, stabilizing the restless heart of Real Madrid’s defense.

With only a short time left in the first half, as long as Real Madrid holds its defense, let Barcelona pass the ball all they want, let’s see how long they can keep it up, and how much time the referee will give them.

The referee has been frequently checking the time.

The first half is about to expire.

Messi keeps sneaking glances at Chen Zhong. Every time Chen Zhong looks at him, he quickly turns his head, pretending nothing happened.

When the ball returns to Iniesta’s feet, Messi gestures towards his short legs inside the penalty area.

Without hesitation, Iniesta opts for a powerful short pass.

”Iniesta takes the ball.”

”Passes.”

”Messi!”

Chen Zhong is much taller than Messi, and as Messi sees Iniesta, he also notices Iniesta looking his way, making Chen Zhong instantly sense danger.

This keen instinct is also why Chen Zhong can often find himself in crucial defensive positions.

But he doesn’t choose to press Messi, instead deliberately keeping a little distance from him.

And Messi is completely unaware of this; in Messi’s mind, Chen Zhong is sticking very close to him. If he moves a certain way, he thinks he can decisively beat Chen Zhong.

After all, his center of gravity is low, and his foot frequency is quick.

The ball rolls towards Messi, after receiving it, he quickly turns, but in his mind, Chen Zhong is a little away; at the moment he turns, Messi ends up facing Chen Zhong like a student caught off guard.

And Chen Zhong seizes this moment to extend his long leg, intending to poke the ball away from Messi.

For an ordinary player, the ball would have been disrupted by now.

Such a scene is not uncommon, even in games.

But this is Messi!

Who can change direction even when the ball is in mid-air.

He reacts, then falls inside the penalty box, and the referee blows the whistle!